Christopher Camp

Christopher Camp has been an activist, advocate and community organizer around issues of HIV/AIDS prevention, and issues of concern to persons living with HIV/AIDS and to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered communities since 1982. In May of 1986, Chris was diagnosed HIV+, though he soon discovered through the testing of a sample of his blood that he had been infected since January of 1982. (he was part of a Hepatitis study in March of 1982).

Chris Camp has worked with the State of Maryland DHMH since September of 1992, where he works as Training Specialist in the Center for Capacity Building Assistance, in the Division of Planning and Quality Improvement in the Infectious Disease Bureau.

Chris works as an advocate, activist, trainer and community organizer to assist HIV/AIDS affected and effected groups. Some of his volunteer history includes extensive involvement with: AIDSWALK-Maryland in 1988 - 1992; one of the original volunteers at the AIDS Resource Center inDallas, TX in 1983, aka The Dallas Buyers Club; a presenter and trainer for the National Lesbian and Gay Health Association and the POZ Life Expo; a fund raiser and grief counselor for the Names Project Quilt; a crisis counselor at AIDS hotlines; a board member of the Carl Vogel Foundation, and a buddy to persons living with AIDS. Chris was also a volunteer for the 2012 XIX International AIDS Conference in Washington, DC. He is the Chair of the Community Advisory Board of the SHARE Study - Study to Help in the AIDS Research Effort (SHARE), which is the largest Multi-center AIDS Cohort Study in the country, with over 1,400 participants in the Baltimore-Washington region. He also was one of the founders of the Deaf AIDS Project, the only statewide HIV prevention project for the deaf in the country, Chris also assisted in the development of the statewide health needs assessment for the Native American AIDS Prevention Project. He is also a pastor (in his free time!).

Chris graduated with honors from BAYLOR UNIVERSITY, Waco, TX in May 1978 with a BA in Clinical Psychology and Counseling; and completed 90 hours of Masters work in Applied Cultural Anthropology & Cross-Cultural Communication at the DALLASTHEOLOGICAL SEMINARY & GRADUATE SCHOOL, Dallas, TX

AWARDSIn 1997, Chris was awarded the John Stuban Memorial Award for AIDS Activism in honor of his continued volunteer efforts to improve the quality of life for persons living with HIV/AIDS in the Baltimore community.

In January 1998, Chris was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by The Terry Beirn Community Programs for Clinical Research on AIDS (CPCRA), part of the Division of AIDS of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the National Institutes of Health for his work as a Community Constituency Group Representative for Baltimore TRIALS - Treatment Research in AIDS for Life & Survival ('95), at the University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD. He was recognized for making a significant contribution to their HIV therapeutic research.

In April 1998, Chris was awarded the 1998 Bicentennial Public Health Hero Award by the State of Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for his outstanding service in improving the public health of all Marylanders, especially for persons living with HIV infection and AIDS.

In June 1999, Chris was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by The U.S. Food and Drug Administration for his participation in the FDA-sponsored national network of State AIDS Health Fraud Task Forces and for his continued efforts to educate and protect the public from fraudulent activities associated with HIV/AIDS.

In April 2000, Chris was awarded the Harry Woosley, Jr. Service Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the Family Service Foundation Deaf AIDS Project

In April 2000, Chris was awarded a Governor's Citation in recognition of the dedication, commitment and support demonstrated on behalf of the Deaf citizens of Maryland.

In December 2006, Chris was awarded of certificate of Appreciation for 18 years serving as Chair of the community advisory board of the Baltimore – Washington arm of the MACS: the Multi-center AIDS Cohort Study, also known as the SHARE Study (Study to Help the AIDS Research Effort). He is still CAB Chair…now for 28 years.

Chris participates in many programs and panels on HIV and seniors, especially for the Johns Hopkins AIDS Education Training Center. He is also the trainer with the Mid Atlantic AETC, and plans and conducts trainings for the State of Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

He has lost over 450 friends to HIV. His first husband Donald died in his arms in August 1992 of AIDS - related causes (he was 28 years old and was a triathelete at Towson State University…Donald was unable to walk in his last two years of life).

Chris is now married to a wonderful man named Jack, and in October they will celebrate their 20th anniversary.